PALEOCHORA VILLAGE IN CRETE
Paleochora is situated on a small peninsula in the south west of Crete, 77 kilometers from Chania. It's 'crowned' with a Venetian castle that has for the most part fallen apart. In 1278 the Venetian general Marinos Gradengos had the castle of Selino built. The pirate Barbarosa destroyed the fort in a raid in 1539 but the outside of the fortress is still well-preserved. The village of Paleochora itself is build on the ancient town of Kalamidis.

On both sides of the peninsula you can find beaches. On one side there is a long pebble beach (and I really mean pebble...no sand) which is used mainly by nudists. On this side you also find the harbour with boats departing to the islands of Gavdos and Elafonisi, and to several other villages that lie along the south west coast of Crete, like Sougia, Loutro and Chora Sfakion. Actually this is the most attractive part of the village.

There is a long boulevard with houses, hotels, rooms for rent and shops. On the other side you will find the long sand beach of Paleochora. The beach may be better, but the atmospere is less cosy here.

In the surroundings of Paleochora you can find many Byzantine remains and small Byzantine chapels with interesting fresco's, as well as the remains of early Christian churches.